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Watford v Liverpool predictions for the Premier League game on Saturday, August 12. Will Liverpool win their season-opener for the fifth straight season or will Watford end their losing run against the Reds? Read on for all of our free predictions and betting tips.

Watford v Liverpool Betting Tips Explained

The bookmakers believe the Premier League title will be beyond Liverpool this season, having priced them up at 12/1 ahead of the big kick-off, but manager Jurgen Klopp believes he has now assembled a squad that is capable of claiming English football’s biggest prize during the 2017/18 campaign.

“We will be playing for the championship,” Klopp told reporters. “We don't start a season by not having any ambitions. We have to have our goals. That's what we did last season. We aimed for the top, and we finished fourth. But I think we have a very good team now. We did have a bit of bad luck last season. I think we can play a little bit better. Let's hope everything will work very well and that there isn't much more to improve. We have to work very hard on it and we're doing that.”

A fast start to the 2017/18 season would obviously help Liverpool achieve their first top-flight title success during the Premier League era, and the Reds have developed a reputation for racing out of the blocks in recent seasons, winning their opening match in each of the past four campaigns. And the good news for them is they will be kicking off their 2017/18 season against a side they have enjoyed great success against during the Premier League era.

Liverpool and Watford have met eight times in the league since the top flight was rebranded, and the Reds have come out on top on six occasions, losing just twice. And if you want to look beyond their Premier League record it gets even better because the Merseyside giants have won 12 of their last 15 competitive matches against the Hornets and have lost just three of their meetings since a 2-1 reverse at Vicarage Road in May 1983. Simply put, Liverpool have become Watford’s bogey team.

Klopp’s boys did the double over Watford last season, storming to a 6-1 victory at Anfield before Emre Can’s goal gave them a 1-0 victory at Vicarage Road, and you have to fancy their chances of claiming three more Premier League points when they visit Watford for this lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

The Match Betting odds for a Liverpool victory are certainly backable, but I am looking for a bigger return and that is why I suggest backing the Red to overcome a one-goal handicap while beating Watford. History certainly suggests that will be the case here because five of the last six matches between these two clubs have seen a two-goal winning margin, and this could be a great time for Liverpool to take on Watford as they settle down to life under another new manager – their ninth in five years!

My final recommendation for this season-opener is to back Liverpool new-boy Mohamed Salah to get on the scoresheet. The £37million summer capture from Roma is expected to make his first competitive start for the Reds at Vicarage Road and he will go into the game in fine scoring form having rattled in a few goals for his new employers in pre-season. Salah could turn out to be a very shrewd bit of business by Klopp, and his first competitive strike could come at Watford on opening day.

Watford v Liverpool Betting Odds

Watford v Liverpool Stats

Liverpool have won each of their last three games against Watford and 12 of the last 15

Liverpool have won five of their last six competitive fixtures at Vicarage Road

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has won three of his four meetings with Watford, losing just once

Watford have beaten Liverpool on just three occasions since 1983

Five of the last six matches between Watford and Liverpool have seen a winning margin of two goals or more

Liverpool have won their Premier League opener in each of the past four seasons